Here are some of the most common dental procedures that may require dental sedation.
To this day, despite all the medical technology designed to make treatments less invasive, fear of the dentist remains among many people. Whether it’s a traumatic experience from childhood or an unrealistic and exaggerated portrayal of dentists in our culture, many people are fearful about going to the dentist.
All of the staff have been extremely incredible. Dr. Thoms was amazing & really helped calm me before my procedure. Dr. Thoms answered any & all questions I have had & was extremely understanding when it comes to having dental anxiety. Robyn was the best X-ray technician I have ever had. She felt personable but still extremely professional. Throughout my life I have been to numerous dentists in hopes of finding one that will take my extreme dental anxiety seriously & not make me feel bad for it. I have finally found my favorite dentist. The Dental Anesthesia Center is my #1 pick if I had to chose any dentist.
Response from the owner:Thanks for your kind words and for sharing your experience. We’re grateful for your trust in our team and are pleased to hear you felt supported and comfortable throughout your visit. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to continuing to provide compassionate, patient-centered care.
Hands down the best dental office in the area! They have always taken care of me and been very accommodating. The Doctors are the BEST!!! I would HIGHLY recommend this office if you are looking for a dentist! 5+ stars all around.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review and recommendation! We’re grateful for your kind words and are thrilled to hear that our team has provided a positive experience. We appreciate your support and look forward to serving our community with exceptional care.
I started seeing this practice as a scared middle age woman that thought she was quickly on the way to being toothless. Years later now, still working with the amazing Dr Behl and her amazing staff, I have been able to continue with my present teeth. Alway kind, full of grace, mercy and humor!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your thoughtful review. We’re honored to be part of your dental journey and appreciate your kind words about Dr. Behl and our team.
We have been taking our son to Dental Anesthesia since 2019. He gets his dental treatment and blood work done at the same time. We find the staff and Dr. Thoms highly professional. They communicate well and provide excellent treatment/services. Getting blood work done during sedation helps us a lot.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your experience. We’re honored to be part of your family’s care. We appreciate your trust in us.
This was my first time coming to the Dental Anesthesia Center, recommended by my sister whose special needs son has seen Dr. Hoffmann for years. I have a very difficult jaw condition resulting from a car accident and Dr. Hoffmann made me feel so immediately at ease that I’ve scheduled some extensive dental work to be done later this summer. I also loved my nurse, Ashley, who was so attentive, sweet and knowledgeable. She made me feel not as an anomaly, but valued and validated, and I hope she will be with me during my upcoming surgery. Thank you, Dr. Hoffmann and Ashley, for welcoming me to your practice!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and for trusting our team. We’re honored to provide a welcoming, compassionate experience and will be sure to share your compliments with Dr. Hoffmann, Ashley, and the rest of our staff. We appreciate your support!
As irrational as it may be at times, fear of the dentist can have many consequences on your oral health. Not going for your regular checkups might cause simple problems, such as plaque to take a turn for the worst, which may require complex and extensive procedures. It’s a vicious circle: you avoid seeing the dentist because you are afraid, but this exacerbated fear might be the thing that could affect your oral health and require multiple visits.
Sedating patients before procedures that involve pain or strange sensations could be a solution.
How Does Sedation Work?
Your St. Louis sedation dentist will use a drug or mix of drugs that allow you to remain conscious during the procedures but keeps you relaxed and calm so that you won’t get overwhelmed by stress and fear and interrupt the treatment. That allows the dental practitioner to treat you properly, even when it requires invasive procedures that take a lot of time to perform.
Make sure to talk with yoursedation dentist and decide which anesthetic is best suited for your treatment and medical history.
Procedures That Generally Require Sedation
While sedation dentistry can make any fearful patient’s visit to the dentist better, it is generally recommended for invasive treatments. Procedures that take a long time and require the patient to be still are significantly shortened with the help of an anesthetic.
Here are some of the most common dental procedures that may require dental sedation.
Wisdom Tooth Removal
Because they erupt later in life and are often pushed in strange positions by the other teeth, wisdom teeth often need to be extracted. The removal can be quite difficult, especially when dealing with a “hidden” wisdom tooth, so the dentist might suggest sedation for a less traumatic treatment session.
Dental Implants
Losing your teeth can be a hard thing to cope with, whether it happens over a long time or is caused by an injury. Sedation can help a lot during the dental implant procedure, making it seem shorter and relaxing than it is.
Jaw Surgery
While it is definitely not a routine procedure, jaw surgery might be needed in some instances to treat various conditions, such as sleep apnea or a congenital jaw misalignment. Because it takes a long time to perform, it’s best to be done with sedation.
Bone Grafting
If your dentures don’t fit well enough, it will feel very uncomfortable or painful. Often, bone grafting is needed to align the dentures, and sedation greatly improves the comfort of the patient.
Emergency Dental Treatment
You are most likely still under shock or in a great amount of pain when receiving emergency dental treatment. Sedating will help you remain calm and still during the treatment.
As you can see, there are quite a few situations that may require sedation. It will help the dentist do his work uninterrupted, while the patient feels so relaxed that he often falls asleep during the treatment. Give us a call today at (314) 862-7844 and see if sedation dentistry is right for you!
